Resilient tire.



" '0. J. KOOPMAN.

RESILIBNT TIRE.

APYLIGATION FILED MAILS, 1909.

Patented Sept. 3, 1912.

1;" l! l' Illll Illli n o r. H e u n a CHARLES JOHN KOOPMAN, MIDDLETOVIN, CALFORNA.

RESILIENT TIRE.

Specification of Letters Patent,

Patented Sept. 3, 1912.

pplication filed March 9, 1901-). Serial No. 482294.

,.lovving is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of tires in Which resiliency and elasticity are obtained by means of springs, and the object of the invention is to provide improved means .for mounting and supporting the springs, and also to so construct the tire that it may be applied to the rim of any ordinary motor vehicle Wheel Without altering y or modifying the same.

lVith the foregoing objects in vievv, the

inventionconsists in a novel construction and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the dra-Wing hereto annexed in Which--A Figure 1 is an elevation of a fragment of the tire, partly in longitudinal section. Fig.

2 is an enlarged transverse sectional view.

Fig. 3' is a perspective view of a fragment of one of the bands whereby the tire is secured to the Wheel rim.

Referring more particularly to the draivings, 5 denotes the rim of an ordinary motor vehicle Wheel, said rim being provided With` the usual channel 6 in which the tire seats.

The tire which is the subject of the presentinvention comprise-sa series of resilient rings which are secured in spaced relation on the rim 5. shape in. cross section, suit-able size and strength to sta 'd the strain they are subjected to. The r gs extend transversely and radially with respect to the rim, and as many per runni g foot are and they are of a kemployed as are necessary to ustain the eiglit .of the vehicle, The rings are connected in spaced relation by meansof A.annula-r-:flexibleI strips 8 which are secured in anyjsuitable manner as byy brazing, soldering, or otherwise to the inside thereof. Two of these. spacing and connecting strips are provided, they being preferably located at` 'the sides of the tire. i

The rings are fastened to means of annular bands 9 and 9a. The band 9 passes through the rings', extends concentric and coincides With the fastened to the suit-able means.

with thel Wheel rim, channel] thereof, it being rim by'. bolts 10 orvother This band is inside the rings,

The rings may be of any and that side of the band which engages the rings is made convex as shoivn in Fig. Q to conform to the outline thereof. The band 9 tits `in the channell of the rim, and is fastened therein by the bolts 10. The rings are held between the bands and tia, and that side of the band 9a which is inccntact with the rim is dat to tit snugly thereon, and the opposite `side is provided ivith transverselyY extending grooves 9 which are spaced apart and receive the rings, there being a groove for each ring. The bottoms of the groov 9b are curved to tit the rings. ing up the bolts 11.

10 by means of their nuts the rings ivil-l be securely clamped betvveen the bands, and the latter are rigidly fastened to the rim of the .vheel. p

The tire is also provided with a cover 12 which may be of rubber` canvas, leather, or other flexible material. This cover may be secured tothe wheel rim in the saine manner as an ordinary clencher tire, it being held in the channel of the tire by the rings. The cover prevents Water, rocks or any other foreign matter from reaching Athe springs, and eifectually protects the same. T he cover is also desirable for the sake of appearance. The appearance of the tire does not differ from that of the ordinary pneumatic tire no\v in use.

It vvill be understood, of course, that there Will be a break in the strips S and the bands 9 and 9a in order that the tire may be placed on the rim, and the ends of said parts may be connected in any suitable manner.

At suitable intervals, the tire is provided with bumpers 13 carried by posts 14 rising from the plate 9 and secured thereto in any suitable manner. The parts 13 may be of rubber or other suitable cushioning material and their purpose is to prevent the rings from being forced too far in the direction of the rim, and to prevent possible breakage by too severe contact .withsolid obstacles, ruts, etc. The bumpers also assist to pre vent the tire from entirely collapsing case of breakage of some of the rings, many of suchbumpers being provided Will best serve this purpose.Y

A tire constructed as herein described, has sutlicient resiliency tobe successfully substituted for a pneumatic tire,l it is strong and durable and can be made to tit different sized Wheels, and rims, and in different `strengths according to the class of vehicles to which it is to be applied.

U pon tighten- As many of the strips 8 may be employed as will be found necessary to properly hold the rings in spaced relation, and if desired, the cover 12`1nay be cemented or otherwise mounted on the rings.

What is claimed is:

Adevice of the class described-comprising a channeled rim; a cover having itsedges engaged with the rim; an annular band seated in the channel of the riiri and having its outer face' concaved upon the saine radius as the inner face of the cover, the lateral edges of the concaved face being in close and intimate contact with the cover, whereby the cover and the band will dene a continuous surface, the outer surface of the band being provided with transverse grooves extended unbrokenv across the median plane of the Wheel; rings disposed radially about the rim and seated in the'grooves, the peripheries of the rings being continuously engaged ments extended through both bands andl through the rim, the securing elements having parallel terminal elements engaging the outer face of the lastspecified band, and the under face of the rim.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

CHARLES JOHN KOOPMAN.

Witnesses:

H. C. Bn'r'rs, H. J. QUIGLER. 

